When Jeremiyah Love broke free for a 62-yard touchdown on Notre Dame’s first offensive play, there was no doubt — this wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. The No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish didn’t just beat the Syracuse Orange on Saturday, November 22, 2025 — they dismantled them, 70-7, in front of a stunned crowd at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. Love, the senior running back, finished with 171 yards and three touchdowns, but the real story was the sheer, unrelenting dominance that left Syracuse’s offense stranded in its own end zone for nearly the entire game.
When the defense went silent
Syracuse entered the game with a 4-7 record, battered by injuries and a schedule that had drained their depth. Their starting quarterback, J. Filardi, was playing through a sprained ankle. His backup was out. Their top two linebackers were sidelined. By the second quarter, they were down to walk-ons on the defensive line. And yet, no one expected this. Not even the most cynical analyst. Notre Dame’s offense didn’t just score — it sculpted. Love ran through tackles like they were cones. Quarterback Quinn Nordin found tight end Benjamin Carter for a 23-yard score. Wideout Malik Johnson caught a 48-yard bomb off a play-action fake. The Irish scored on their first seven possessions. Seven. By halftime, it was 49-0. The Syracuse sideline looked more like a medical tent than a football bench.What went wrong for Syracuse?
Filardi completed 14 of 26 passes for just 83 yards — and threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. His longest completion? A 17-yard pass to a freshman receiver who had never started a game before. The Orange managed only 187 total yards. Their best play of the night? A 14-yard run by backup tailback Tyler McCall in the fourth quarter — their only first down after the third quarter. Coaches tried adjustments. They blitzed. They dropped eight into coverage. Nothing worked. Notre Dame’s offensive line, ranked among the nation’s top five, simply outmuscled Syracuse’s defensive front. And when the Irish weren’t running, they were throwing — 32 pass attempts, 26 completions, zero sacks. It was a clinic in precision. "We didn’t just lose," said Syracuse head coach Gary Darnell after the game. "We got outplayed at every level. That’s not a reflection of effort. It’s a reflection of where we are right now — and we’re not close to being where we need to be."Notre Dame’s playoff pulse
This win pushed Notre Dame to 10-2 on the season, a dramatic turnaround from their 3-3 start. With the victory, they leapfrogged both LSU and Oregon in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. They now sit at No. 9 — the highest-ranked team without a conference title — and are one win away from locking up a New Year’s Six bowl berth. The Irish haven’t played in the playoff since 2020. But with a win over No. 12 Clemson next week in the ACC Championship Game, they could sneak into the top four. That’s not just possible — it’s plausible. Especially if the committee sees what they saw on Saturday: a team that can dominate physically, move the chains efficiently, and score at will. "This isn’t about the scoreboard," said Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman. "It’s about momentum. We’re playing with confidence now. And that’s contagious."The ripple effect
For Syracuse, the 70-7 loss is their worst since a 77-7 defeat to Florida State in 2015. It’s their first time allowing 70 points since 2009. The Orange will finish the season 4-8 — their worst record since 2019. Their bowl eligibility hopes are dead. Recruiting, already struggling, may take another hit. Meanwhile, in the broader landscape of Week 13, No. 1 Ohio State stayed perfect at 11-0 with a 38-10 win over Rutgers. Washington crushed UCLA 48-14 behind four touchdowns from quarterback Demond Williams Jr.. And Kennesaw State pulled off a stunning 41-34 upset over Missouri State, thanks to quarterback Amari Odom’s five-touchdown, 387-yard performance. But none of those games had the seismic impact of Notre Dame’s demolition. It’s the kind of result that changes perceptions — and reshapes playoff math.What’s next?
Notre Dame’s final regular-season game is against No. 12 Clemson in the ACC Championship on December 7. Win that, and they’ll likely be in the playoff conversation — even if they don’t win the conference. Lose, and they’ll still be in the mix for a New Year’s Six bowl, possibly the Cotton or Orange. For Syracuse, the season is over. But the rebuilding has begun. Darnell has already confirmed that Filardi will not return next year. The search for a new QB starts now — and it starts with a team that lost by 63 points.Frequently Asked Questions
How does Jeremiyah Love’s performance compare to other Notre Dame running backs in history?
Love’s 171 rushing yards and three touchdowns against Syracuse are among his best single-game efforts. He now has 1,432 rushing yards on the season, the most by a Notre Dame back since Cierre Wood in 2011. His 17 total touchdowns this year rank second in school history for a single season among running backs, trailing only Jerome Bettis’ 1992 total of 18. He’s also the first Irish RB to rush for three TDs in a game since Tony Jones Jr. in 2019.
Why was Syracuse’s defense so ineffective?
Syracuse lost four starting defenders to season-ending injuries in the last five games, including their top two linebackers and starting safety. Their defensive line averaged 240 pounds — 35 pounds below the national average. They had no depth at cornerback, forcing true freshmen into coverage against elite receivers. Notre Dame’s offensive line, by contrast, had three players who were All-ACC candidates. The mismatch was brutal.
Could this loss eliminate Syracuse from bowl consideration?
Yes. Syracuse finished 4-8, well below the six-win threshold required for bowl eligibility. They were already on the bubble entering this game, and the 63-point loss confirmed their elimination. It’s their first losing season since 2019 and only their third since 2008. The program now faces major questions about leadership, recruiting, and culture.
What does this mean for Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff chances?
Notre Dame is now a legitimate playoff candidate — but only if they beat Clemson in the ACC Championship. Even a loss to Clemson wouldn’t necessarily knock them out, as long as they finish 11-2 with wins over ranked teams like USC and Florida State. Their 70-point outburst was a statement: they can dominate elite competition. The committee values dominance, especially late in the season.
Has any team ever scored 70 points against Syracuse before?
Yes — but not in the modern era. The last time Syracuse allowed 70+ points was in 1987, when they lost 77-7 to Florida State. Before that, it was 1970, when they were beaten 70-0 by Penn State. Saturday’s 70-7 loss is the most points ever allowed by Syracuse under head coach Gary Darnell, and the worst since the 1980s. The program has not seen such a collapse since the early days of the modern game.
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